It’s time to Sharpen them knives. The Windy City Story Slam has collected Chicago’s finest storytellers to compete in the All-City Championships Semi-Finals Friday May 18th at Chicago Urban Arts Society’s new location 600 W. Cermak in Chicago. The Competitors include Cara Brigandi of Grown Folks Stories, Scott Whitehair of This Much is True Storytelling, Shannon Cason of Moth Chicago, Deb Lewis of 2nd Story, Luis Perez of Vocalo FM’s Stories and Music, Jacob Knabb of Another Chicago Magazine, Jesse Jordan of RUI, Jeff Kerr of Criminal Class Press, and several more. Out of the 15 semi-finalists only 5 will advance to the All-City Championships where they will share the stage with new Chicagoan Irvine Welsh author of Trainspotting and Skagboys at the Viaduct Theatre May 26th. The audience will decide who advances to the big stage.

The Origins of the Windy City Story Slam will be revealed Friday night. Don’t miss it. We’ve got a wonderful cast that is bringing a tremendeous amount of energy this play. Tom Mula a pro director and a great guy is getting the best out of them and the writing.

The Windy City Story Slam is set to duke it out with Porchlight Storytelling in S.F. Sunday December 4th at the Edinburgh Castle in San Francisco. Five on Five as usual for these City vs City battles. You don’t want to miss this. This is all part of the Windy City Story Slam/Criminal Class Press west coast tour. We’re going into San Quentin prison to do a battle with the prisoner writer’s workshop there. Then headed up to Portland for an event with Portland Story Theatre. Then down to LA for Book Soup. It’s gonna be a hell of a ride. Check out Kevin’s interview at SF Station the Gaper’s Block of San Fran:

Thanks to everyone who braved the rain and come out to support the John and Betty Scholarship Slam. We raised $3,000 in a wonderful evening. Joe Meno won the Battle of the Titan’s Story Slam. An inspiring evening and I’m proud to say there will be a John and Betty Scholarship this year in the Fiction Department at Columbia College. Get your manuscripts in guys! And thanks to everyone who supported this event!